I received the following from a reader - "I am in mourning today. Yesterday the ELCA church I've belonged to for 18 years voted to celebrate gay marriages. I saw it coming but the news has hit me hard. As a lifelong Lutheran, I have watched this denomination gradually turn its back on Scripture so that I now have no choice but to leave. My son and daughter-in-law, who is the Christian Ed director at the church, can't understand my stance. They, and a great majority at this affluent suburban church, ...love the comfy pews, beautiful music and innocuous sermons. A Bible is rarely opened there. I am leaving a social club that happens to meet on a Sunday morning. I weep for my 4 lovely granddaughters who are growing up there being indoctrinated with false teaching and ELCA social justice propaganda. The good news is I've found a new church -- much smaller and far less affluent -- that unapologetically proclaims Biblical truth. I pray that I can somehow be a witness to those I am leaving behind."

Having been a Lutheran for the past 69 years I am now very concerned about the path that the ELCA taking. I don't like it. I feel the ELCA has left me. I am considering making a change. I don't believe I can stick with the ELCA anymore. I am having a hard time with this. So far I have stayed in hopes that the ELCA corrects itself, but I don't think that's going to happen. It's just getting worse.

Reply

John Williams

8/5/2015 06:16:37 am

Mr. Shannon, six years ago I felt that way too. The ELCA did leave us, and they're not coming back, and it was very hard for me to accept. But I thought and prayed and read Scripture about the question, and the answer was consistent: God give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. I left to join an LCMC congregation, and it has made ALL the difference! A congregation I would invite others to visit, is the only kind of congregation I should attend myself -- makes sense, but I just didn't see it until I had made the switch. Whether it's LCMC, LCMS, NALC, or otherwise, I hope you will find a Christian congregation that preaches and teaches the Bible. You have nothing to lose but the lies.

David, my wife, and I experienced the same thing. I have found in my journeys outside the ELCA, having Jesus in your life is about having the Holy Ghost Himself in your life. I have found the True living God in The Apostalic five fold ministry. Being baptized in the Holy Ghost is very real, and signs wonders, and miracles found in the book of Acts are happening today. I would encourage you to look at Jonas Clark, and John Eclhardt. May you continue to stand on God's word. May God the Father bless you with the faith only found in His son Jesus The Christ. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Reply

Stacey

8/9/2015 10:17:52 am

David - I understand how difficult this can be. I was raised in the ELCA and my hometown congregation is still affiliated. There are many good people in the ELCA. But my current congregation voted to leave and join LCMC and we have never looked back. We have been growing quite a bit and are thriving. But most importantly, we emphasize biblical teachings and holding our congregation accountable to Scripture. If a church doesn't stand on the Bible, what does it stand on? Society? Popularity? I hope and pray that you will be able to find a place that will enforce the Bible and become a home for you. Know that you are not alone in having to make this journey.